Synopsis: (Back cover)
Upon discovering that the Black Emperor is preparing to invade the continent of Enkidiev once again, The King of Emerald, concerned about defending his people, restores an ancient Order of Chivalry. The seven Knights of Emerald (six men and one woman), selected for their special abilities, also possess extraordinary magical powers.

Just as these comrades-in-arms are prepared to fight, Queen Fan of Shola requests an audience with the king and entrusts him with young Kira, who is still unaware of the role she is destined to play in the future of the kingdom and the continent. On that same day, Wellan, the chief of the knights, falls deeply in love with the queen. Unfortunately, the country of Shola will suffer the fierce attacks of the Black Emperor's dragons, and all Sholians, including the queen, will be annihilated.


Personal rating:
Fire in the Sky is the first of twelve books in The Knights of Emerald series. This book, which came into my hands by chance, filled me with joy. First, because it was written by a woman without a pseudonym, and second, because it's fantasy, and I am drawn to it like a plate of spaghetti. Even so, I did some research on the author before buying the first three volumes.

I'm glad I didn't judge the book by its synopsis, as it doesn't do justice to the wonderful story it holds within. It's a book that will delight both young and older readers.

What's the downside? Only the first three books are translated into Spanish, and as I mentioned, there are twelve titles. I hope we don't have to wait too long, although to date, Anne is not very well known outside French-speaking countries.


About the characters:
About the Characters:

The characters are very well defined and described, making them easy to visualize during the reading. Each one has a background that makes them who they are and act as they do. It's significant that this author includes women in her ranks of knights, although only one out of seven soldiers is a woman. At first glance, it doesn't seem like a big step forward, but as the story progresses, the female characters gain more presence. I've noticed that this improves in the second book, which is great!

The protagonist, Kira, is anything but ordinary. I loved her. Although in this first novel she is not yet three years old, she already shows great strength as a character, and it makes you want to read more about what she is capable of doing. I'm eager to see her grow in the second volume.

Wellan, who can also be considered a main character in the first book, is an intrepid, strong, intelligent knight who listens to his comrades. He is a great leader and quickly endears himself to the reader.

The same goes for Queen Fan. She is a sort of Arwen but with a slightly more tragic development.

—I’ll make a small note here. If you've read me before, you'll know that I love to stop in the middle of whatever I'm doing to highlight what really ticks me off. In my opinion, writers have a common problem when describing characters:

They are brave, attractive, often gallant, but above all, strong.

They... women are a different story. Beauty comes first. The writer emphasizes how beautiful she is. Then, well, the rest of her qualities (even if they are extraordinary) leave an aftertaste of... but she is beautiful, which is what I want you to know most. It's true that Anne Robillard doesn’t do it exactly like this, which is another point in her favor, but this note is directed at the authors I've read and will read. I want to remind everyone that we still need more progress. Even when we think everything is perfect, when we think everything has been improved regarding old archetypes, it hasn't yet—.

The romance with Queen Fan could have been my pet peeve in this first book. However, it is well developed, not cloying, and this made me invest in the series. Far from the usual repeated romance, these characters will be the cornerstone of the plot in this first installment, giving readers the right information to understand every move, both theirs and the enemy's.


About the narration:
It's excellent. The dialogue sticks to what it is, conversations about things the narrator doesn’t tell you. The settings Anne transports us to are incredible and very well described. You can clearly imagine each clan, each lordship, or each character with enviable naturalness. I've learned a lot. Her narrative style captivates from start to finish and never leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Moreover, I especially loved one specific detail: the use of inclusive language, something the translator, Francisco J. Aguirre, maintained when translating the text into Spanish. A round of applause for Anne, as her mother tongue is French. I mention this because I don't know how the book was written in French or what language the translator worked with, but as we know, in English, adjectives and nominatives don't have gender, and yet, in translations into Spanish, the masculine gender often prevails.

For me, this adds a lot of strength to a story that could have been just another one but has become a must-read for every writer who wants to do things a little better. Chapeau!


Regarding the story:
Sometimes, when I embark on readings like this, I think about how wonderful simplicity is. How, using a couple of scenes that could happen in real life, you can create such a magical story that makes you want to keep reading more and more.

The plot may seem typical: "a group of knights saving the continent from the evil that plagues it." It seems very unoriginal, right? Add the surprise element, a bit of magic here, some dragons there, humor, sadness, challenges, goals, a lot of talent, and there you have it! Can you imagine how it will end? No. Can you predict it? You can draw conclusions, yes, but suddenly the writer takes you a few miles away from them and shows you something you didn't expect.

The story turns out to be not so simple, so predictable, so flat. That is essential in good novels. In short, I love The Knights of Emerald.


To conclude:
Anne Robillard has won my heart with this novel. I'm reading the second part, and I hope it leaves me as satisfied as the first. From how it’s developing, I would say it has all the signs of captivating me again. I'll let you know how it goes.

Rating: 7,5 / 10